Begonia cultivar Manderijn

ABSTRACT

A Begonia plant named Manderijn characterized by its orange-salmon double sterile flowers up to 5 cm. in diameter, medium size dark green foliage, vigorous upright, self-branching mounded plant, year round flowering, and the ability to maintain good quality flowers for long periods of time.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofBegonia plant, botanically known as Begonia hiemalis, Fotsch, and knownby the cultivar named Manderijn.

This new cultivar was discovered by me as a mutation of the cultivarKarita, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,746, and was observed in agroup of 13 cm. flowering plants of Karita in a cultivated area.

Asexual reproduction by stem and/or leaf cuttings has reproduced theunique features of this new cultivar through successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish Manderijn from both its parentKarita and grandparent Kascade (unpatented) as well as other begoniascommercially known and used in the floriculture industry:

1. Manderijn is later flowering than Karita and has more intensive greencolored leaves. Also, Manderijn has orange-salmon colored flowers,whereas Karita has light pink colored flowers. All other growth andpropagation habits of Manderijn are the same as Karita.

2. Manderijn has more intensive green colored leaves than Kascade. Also,Manderijn has orange-salmon colored flowers, whereas Kascade has lightpink colored flowers.

3. In comparison to Ilona (unpatented), Manderijn has more intensiveflowers that are more double and have a larger diameter than Ilona.Also, Manderijn forms larger leaves and is more vigorous than Ilona, andproduces less flowers per plant than Ilona.

4. In comparison to Enchantment, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,427,Manderijn has more intensive orange colored flowers that are less doublethan Enchantment. Also, the growth habit of Manderijn is more compactthan Enchantment.

5. In comparison to Bolero, Manderijn has a more salmon-orange, lessfilled and larger diameter flower than Bolero. Also, the leaves ofManderijn have a green-reddish color whereas the leaves of Bolero aregreen, and Manderijn is less compact than Bolero.

6. In comparison to Improved Schwabenland Orange, Manderijn is a doubleflowering type whereas Improved Schwabenland Orange is single flowering.Also, Manderijn is more compact and the leaf color is more dark greenthan that of Improved Schwabenland Orange.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a colored photograph taken November 1989 illustrating inperspective view the overall appearance of the cultivar Karita, showingthe colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a coloredreproduction of this type; and

FIG. 2 is a colored photograph taken in November 1989 illustrating inperspective view the overall appearance of the cultivar Manderijn,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in acolored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new cultivar Manderijnbased on plants produced under commercial practices in greenhouses inAmstelveen, The Netherlands, and Oberlin, Ohio, and grown in 10 cm.plastic pots. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

Parentage: Manderijn is a mutation of begonia cultivar Karita, inducedby giving X-ray doses of 2 KRAD to 250 top cuttings of Karita. Afterpinching the irradiated cuttings two times, 1,000 top cuttings weretaken and brought into flower where possible. Out of these floweringplants, the parent of Manderijn was picked, and after two years ofselection and cloning work, Manderijn was developed from this singleparent plant.

Propagation:

(A) Type cutting.--Normal production is from top cutting. However,propagation by leaf cuttings is possible. Cuttings are initially placedunder plastic tents.

(B) Time to root.--15 days at 24° C. in summer and in winter underHID-lights.

(C) Rooting habit.--Fibrous, dendritic, and abundant.

(D) Time for shoot development.--For leaf cuttings with 2 cm. longshoots, a growth period of nine weeks is necessary.

Plant description:

(A) Form.--Compact, internodes relatively closely, vigorousself-supporting, herbaceous.

(B) Habit of growth.--Upright, self-branching, rapid growth, darkgreen-reddish foliage. The plant is considered to be of medium height.

(C) Foliage.--(1) Size: leaves vary in length with age from 6 to 10centimeters and in width from 8 to 11 cm. for plants in 12 cm pots. (2)Shape: generally pointed at the top and open at the base. The incisionsare of bi-crenate type, while there is only little undulation. (3)Texture: crisp to firm, top more soft. (4) Color: upper side darker thanlight green 147A; lower side reddish-green; glossiness of lower side isstrong.

Flowering description:

(A) Flowering habit.--Flowering generally occurs in terminal racemeswith the inflorescence having 6-8 flowers. Once flowering begins, itcontinues at each succeeding node.

(B) Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate, withflowering occurring in all seasons.

(C) Flower buds.--Round to slightly oval, each 15 mm. in diameter priorto opening with outer petals being 48B carmin.

(D) Flowers borne.--On strong self-supporting pedicels originating fromvigorous peduncles giving the appearance of a strong plant.

(E) Quality.--Considered to be an average floriferous cultivar, butflowers are uniformly placed to give an excellent contrast betweenflowers and foliage.

(F) Flower size.--Double, sterile flowers up to 5 cm. in diameter.

(G) Overall appearance of flower color.--38A orange-salmon.

(H) Petals.--(1) Shape: Outer nearly round, inner ovate. (2) Color ofouter petal: edge of upper side 48B carmin; middle of upper side 43Bbright reddish; middle of lower side 48B carmin. (3) Color of innerpetals: edge of upper side 38A orange-salmon; middle of upper side 38Aorange-salmon; middle of lower side 38B orange-pink. (4) Number ofpetals: for flower of average age, 13-15. (5) Incisions: not present onthe petals.

(I) Reproduction organs.--None, Manderijn is a sterile tripoloidcultivar (4N×2N).

I claim:
 1. A Begonia plant named Manderijn, as described andillustrated, having orange-salmon, double, sterile flowers up to 5 cm.in diameter; medium size dark green foliage; vigorous and uprightgrowing; self-branching; year round flowering; and the ability tomaintain good quality flowers for long periods of time.